Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP23’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  plant named ‘DANCOP23’ particularly characterized by 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 1.7 cm in diameter and purple-violet in color with a yellow-orange colored throat; trailing, compact growth habit; early flowering response; and suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Sutera cordata.

Variety denomination: ‘DANCOP23’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant, botanically known as Sutera cordata, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANCOP23’.

Sutera, of the Scrophulariaceae family, consists of annuals, which are grown in most climate zones in the U.S., and only in zones 9 and 10 if it is a perennial plant.

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Sutera variety with large, purple-violet flowers and a trailing, compact growth habit.

The new Sutera cultivar originated from open pollination in a controlled breeding program by the inventor in 2005, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Open pollination of the seed parent, an unpatented Sutera cultivar designated ‘CV-04-31’, by an unknown Sutera cultivar, took place in the controlled breeding program in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The new Sutera ‘DANCOP23’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Sutera cultivar by vegetative tip cuttings was first performed in May of 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘DANCOP23’, which in combination distinguish this Sutera as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 1.7 cm in diameter and         purple-violet in color with a yellow-orange colored throat;     -   2. Trailing, compact growth habit;     -   3. Early flowering response; and     -   4. Suitable for use with hanging basket planters) combination         planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

Plants of the new Sutera ‘DANCOP23’ differ from plants of the parental cultivar, ‘CV-04-31’ (unpatented) in the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent New Cultivar ‘CV-04-31’ Character ‘DANCOP23’ (Unpatented) Flower size Medium, about 1.7 cm Medium, about 1.5 cm Flower color Purple-violet Blue Leaf shape Elliptic Cordate

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Sutera, ‘DANCOP23’ is the Sutera ‘DANGUL14’ patented, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,194), in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘DANGUL14’ (Patented, Characteristic ‘DANCOP23’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,194) Flower size Medium, about 1.7 cm Extra large, about 2.7 cm Flower color Purple-violet White Leaf size (width) Small, about 1.0 cm Large, about 2.0 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Sutera ‘DANCOP23’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘DANCOP23’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘DANCOP23’ in a hanging planter at 3 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of typical flowers and buds of ‘DANCOP23’ at 3 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Sutera ‘DANCOP23’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Sutera ‘DANCOP23’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylength conditions at approximately 12:00 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the plant described is 3 months.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Sutera cordata.         -   Commercial.—Bacopa Scopia™ Great Violet. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Sutera cultivar designated ‘CV-04-31’             (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Open pollination; unknown Sutera             cultivar. -   Optimal growth conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight or slight shade.         -   Temperature.—Day: 20° C. to 24° C. Night: 16° C. to 20° C.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to a low temperature of             about 10° C. and tolerant to a high temperature of about 30°             C.         -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with level of 100 ppm             Nitrogen.         -   Growth regulators.—Unnecessary. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tip cuttings of side shoots.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Easy to root; fine, fibrous             roots.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7 to 10 days at 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 14 days at 18° C. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 10 cm. Spread:             About 50 cm.         -   Shape.—Trailing, vigorous growth habit.         -   Winter hardiness.—Hardy in moderate climate.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Crop time.—About 8 to 10 weeks for a flowering pot.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Branching habit.—Vigorously branched.         -   Lateral branches.—

TABLE 3 Branch characteristic Primary Secondary Length About 45 cm. About 30 cm. Diameter About 2 mm. About 1 mm. Internode Length About 2.5 cm. About 1 cm. Texture Slightly rough Slightly rough Pubescence Present Present Color Green, RHS 137A Green, RHS 137B

-   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement and attachment.—Opposite, petiolate.         -   Leaf length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 1.0 cm.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Elliptic.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Acuminte.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Slightly velvety.         -   Pubescence (both surfaces).—Slightly present.         -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137A.             Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137B.         -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137C.             Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137C.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Palmate. Color: Upper surface: Green, RHS             137A. Lower surface: Green, RHS 137C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: Green,             RHS 137A.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None. -   Flower description:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year round in moderate             climate. Flowering occurs between January and December             outdoors in Israel.         -   Flowering response time.—About 4 weeks from planting.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: Flowering of a single             flower lasts for 7 days.         -   Flowering fragrance.—None.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 200.         -   Flower bud (about 2 days prior to opening).—Shape:             Spatulate. Length: About 10 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture: Velvety. Color: Purple-Violet, RHS N82D.         -   Flower type.—Solitary, auxillary.         -   Flower form.—Salverform.         -   Flower symmetry.—Radial symmetric.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward and outward.         -   Corolla size.—Diameter (spread): About 1.7 cm. Diameter at             lobes: About 17 mm. Overall flower height: About 9 mm.             Length of corolla tube: About 8 mm. Diameter of corolla             tube: About 2 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 5 mm.             Overall shape: Rounded and gameopetalous. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture (upper & lower             surfaces): Slightly velvety. Color: Upper surface, when             opening: Purple-Violet, RHS N82A. Lower surface, when             opening: Purple-Violet, RHS N82C. Upper surface, when             opened: Purple-Violet, RHS N82A. Lower surface, when opened:             Purple-Violet, RHS N82C. Corolla throat color:             Yellow-orange, RHS 14B.         -   Calyx.—Sepals: Quantity: 5. Length: About 6.0 mm. Width:             About 1.0 mm. Overall shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base:             Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Velvety.             Lower surface: Velvety. Upper surface color: Yellow-Green,             RHS 146B. Lower surface color: Yellow-Green, RHS 146B.             Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb: Absent. Pedicel:             Aspect: Slanted upward. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About             1.0 mm. Angle: About 45°. Texture: Velvety. Color:             Yellow-Green, RHS 146B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 4. Arrangement: Didynamous.             Type: Basifixed. Dehiscence of stamens: Extrorse. Color:             Yellow, RHS 13A. Anthers: Shape: Cylinder. Length: About             1.0 mm. Color: Yellow, RHS 13A. Filaments: Length: About             8 mm. Color: Green-Yellow, RHS 1D. Pollen: Amount: Moderate.             Color: Yellow, RHS 13B. Pollination requirements: Young             flowers, active pollen, and receptive, open stigma.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistils: Quantity: 1. Length: About 10 mm.             Stigma: Shape: Undulate. Width: About 0.5 mm. Color:             Green-Yellow, RHS 1B. Style: Shape: Terete. Length: About             8 mm. Ovary: Shape: Ellipsoid. Position: Superior. Length:             About 2.0 mm. Width: About 1.0 mm. Color: Green, RHS 143B. -   Seeds:     -   -   Quantity per fruit.—About 20.         -   Shape.—Rounded.         -   Length.—About 0.5 mm.         -   Width.—About 0.5 mm.         -   Texture.—Rough.         -   Color.—Greyed-Orange, RHS 167D. -   Fruit:     -   -   Type.—Capsule.         -   Shape.—Ellipsoid.         -   Length.—About 4.0 mm.         -   Width.—About 2 mm.         -   Texture.—Rugose.         -   Color.—Greyed-Orange, RHS 165B. -   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information is currently available. 

1. A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP23’, as illustrated and described herein. 